Residents block police from accessing MP Sudi's home
Some residents blocked the Eldoret-Kapsabet road with logs, stones and three tractors to stop police from accessing MP Sudi’s home.
What you need to know:
- A section of Kapseret residents briefly blocked the main road leading to MP Sudi’s home on Friday night.
- The residents said they were resisting an attempt by police to arrest the MP.
- They insisted that they will not allow Mr Sudi to be seized at night as a contingent of police camped outside the lawmaker’s house.
Drama ensued on Friday night when a contingent of police made an attempt to arrest Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, an ardent defender of the Deputy President William Ruto, were blocked by rowdy residents.
The residents, who were armed with bows, arrows, clubs and machetes threatened to attack security officers outside the legislator's home. The officers were led by Uasin Gishu police boss Johnstone Ipara.
The security agents arrived at Mr Sudi's home at around 8:30pm and camped outside his home until 7.10am on Saturday. The whereabouts of the MP remains unknown.
The locals barricaded the road leading to the lawmaker's home off the Eldoret-Kapsabet road with logs, tractors and boulders at several points.
Police managed to clear the road at around 3:30am.
The locals who spoke to the Nation said they would not allow the MP to be arrested at night. They said the MP had a function in town earlier on Friday, but the police did not arrest him.
"In our culture, police cannot come to arrest someone at night and when they come, we consider them as thieves. That is why we had to protect our MP," said Franklin Sigei, a resident.
Leaders condemned the police for forcing their way into Mr Sudi's home at night without giving a valid reason.
Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Shollei, who is also the MP's lawyer, told the Nation that the police searched Mr Sudi’s house. The MP was not there.
Ms Shollei said it was prudent for the police to summon the legislator rather than going to his place at night creating what she described as 'tensions.'
She further added that several people were injured during the commotion including the MP's gateman, who was shot by the police in his shoulder, and was taken to the hospital.
Ms Shollei said it is not yet clear why the police want to arrest Mr Sudi. Soy MP Caleb Kositany accused the authorities of using Kanu-era tricks in the 21st century.
The leaders termed the attempts to arrest Mr Sudi as political witch-hunt
"They want to arrest Sudi the same way they arrested Johanna Ng’eno. We want those who instructed the police to come for Sudi to respect the Constitution," said Gilbert Tenai, who is the MCA for Cheptiret/Kipchamo.
